David Littleproud will stay at the helm of the National Party following an unsuccessful leadership challenge. On Monday, Queensland MP Colin Boyce spearheaded an attempt to initiate a spill motion shortly after 2 p.m., but it failed to secure the necessary backing from party colleagues to move forward with a vote.
Speaking briefly to reporters after the party room meeting, Nationals Whip Michelle Landry refrained from disclosing the number of votes cast for or against the motion. The details of the vote remain undisclosed, but what is clear is that Littleproud’s position as leader is secure for now.
Additionally, Landry noted that the party had yet to deliberate on a motion by Victorian Nationals MP Darren Chester, which aimed to reunite the Coalition. This discussion comes in the wake of a recent split between the Nationals and Liberals, marking the second division since the federal election in May. This most recent schism was prompted by disagreements over new anti-hate legislation.
Earlier in the day, Boyce acknowledged the challenge of displacing Littleproud, admitting the leader would likely retain his position. “David Littleproud will remain the leader, and he will be comprehensively voted in,” Boyce commented on ABC radio, showing an understanding of the political reality within the party.
Earlier, Boyce had been realistic about unseating the incumbent.
“David Littleproud will remain the leader, and he will be comprehensively voted in,” he told ABC radio.
It follows nearly two weeks of infighting between the former coalition parties, triggered by a split vote on Labor’s controversial hate speech laws.
The backbencher said he was moving the motion as the Nationals were committing “political suicide” by trying to go it alone without the Liberal Party’s support.
“I’m hoping to achieve a change of leadership in the National Party and the Liberal Party, and then I hope that we can form a coalition agreement, wipe the slate clean, get rid of the egos and personalities, start afresh,” Boyce said.
Several Nationals members expected the motion to fail.
Following the Nationals party room meeting, Littleproud will meet with embattled Opposition leader Sussan Ley to negotiate reuniting the Coalition after its breakup last week.
Ley earlier announced an interim Liberal-only shadow cabinet, giving the Nationals a week-long deadline to decide whether the split would be made permanent.
If the parties aren’t reunited by the second sitting week, the Liberals plan to promote six of their MPs to the shadow cabinet and two to the outer shadow ministry.
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